Mazda 6: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mazda 6 fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 2.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 61,885 individual Mazda 6 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 74% first-time pass rate means roughly 26 in every 100 Mazda 6s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Mazda 6 tested had covered 91,609 miles and was built around 2013.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Mazda 6 sits 2.7 points below the national average, ranked 1,644 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Mazda 6 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Mazda 6: £300 at UK salvage auction, from 22 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Mazda 6

1. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this defect)
2. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 1.3% of tests (2.17x the national rate for this defect)
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.9% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.2% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this defect)
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.8% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this defect)
6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.8% of tests (1.69x the national rate for this defect)
7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.6% of tests (1.66x the national rate for this defect)
8. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 1.5% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.1% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 4.7% of tests

From 61,824 DVSA-tracked Mazda 6 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.27% of these flagged Mazda 6 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Mazda 6

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Mazda 6 before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 24.3% of tests (4.69x the national rate for this advisory)
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 5.3% of tests (3.52x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.6% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.1% of tests (2.79x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.7% of tests (1.83x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 10.1% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 14.2% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.8% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this advisory)
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 16.3% of tests (1.22x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 29.1% of tests

From 61,824 DVSA-tracked Mazda 6 tests, 2024.

Mazda 6 pass rate by model year

From its 2004 to its 2020 model year, the Mazda 6's first-time pass rate has risen 35 points, from 57.8% to 92.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Mazda 6 year:

• 2004 Mazda 6 - 57.8% first-time pass, 370 tests
• 2005 Mazda 6 - 58.2% first-time pass, 802 tests
• 2006 Mazda 6 - 63.9% first-time pass, 1,262 tests
• 2007 Mazda 6 - 63% first-time pass, 2,244 tests
• 2008 Mazda 6 - 63.1% first-time pass, 3,300 tests
• 2009 Mazda 6 - 66.6% first-time pass, 3,822 tests
• 2010 Mazda 6 - 65.6% first-time pass, 5,059 tests
• 2011 Mazda 6 - 66% first-time pass, 3,960 tests
• 2012 Mazda 6 - 68.2% first-time pass, 2,867 tests
• 2013 Mazda 6 - 73.2% first-time pass, 4,127 tests
• 2014 Mazda 6 - 75% first-time pass, 6,221 tests
• 2015 Mazda 6 - 78.1% first-time pass, 6,657 tests
• 2016 Mazda 6 - 80.1% first-time pass, 6,884 tests
• 2017 Mazda 6 - 84.6% first-time pass, 4,733 tests
• 2018 Mazda 6 - 87% first-time pass, 3,247 tests
• 2019 Mazda 6 - 89.4% first-time pass, 4,444 tests
• 2020 Mazda 6 - 92.8% first-time pass, 1,048 tests

Mazda 6 by fuel type

The Mazda 6's two most-tested fuel types split by 0.7 points: diesel passes first time 74.3% of the time (32,906 tests) against 75% for petrol (28,464 tests).

• Diesel Mazda 6 - 74.3% first-time pass, 32,906 tests
• Petrol Mazda 6 - 75% first-time pass, 28,464 tests

Other Mazda models

• Mazda 2 - 73.4%
• Mazda 3 - 73.4%
• Mazda Mx-5 - 77.2%
• Mazda Cx-5 - 83.1%
• Mazda Cx-3 - 88%
• Mazda 5 - 59%
• Mazda Bongo - 58.1%
• Mazda 2 GT Sport Nav Mhev - 93.9%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Lexus Is220 - 74.2%
• Perodua Myvi - 74.2%
• Toyota Landcruiser Estate - 74.1%
• Suzuki Alto - 74%
• Fiat Motorhome - 74%
• Renault R5 - 74%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Mazda 6? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/mazda-6"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/mazda-6.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Mazda 6 MOT Pass Rate: 74% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Mazda 6's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/mazda-6"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/mazda-6.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Mazda 6 most common MOT failure: Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement (3% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate